By all appearances it seems that a contractor is digging up a hill in the FireRock Country Club and hauling it out of town.

There have been numerous residents wondering about the number of trucks hauling the dirt through town to the north. It appears the destination is the Shea Homes Trilogy community north of the Verde Communities, though their exact use is not known.

The truck routes through Fountain Hills are designated in the Zoning Ordinance and are Shea Boulevard, Palisades Boulevard, Saguaro Boulevard and Grande Boulevard. The portion of Fountain Hills Boulevard north of Saguaro is also included.

In this case the trucks are leaving the construction site going west on Shea to Palisades, north to Fountain Hills Boulevard and then north out of town. The haulers were given special permission for the trucks to use the portion of Fountain Hills Boulevard between Palisades and Saguaro, according to Streets Supervisor Justin Weldy.

Town Development Services Director Paul Mood said they are specifically avoiding Saguaro Boulevard on this project. One reason is for the relatively fresh asphalt from the street reconstruction, and the second and more important right now is the severe lane restrictions at Ashbrook Wash where new culverts are being constructed.

Mood said he is uncertain how many yards of dirt are being removed from the project, but he estimates the work is about half done.

Another question being raised about the project is the amount of grading on the site.

Toll Brothers is building 64 condominium units on 14.6 acres around the hill. Town Zoning Administrator Bob Rodgers said the site was approved as part of the overall FireRock Country Club Master Plat and there is no hillside protection easement in play. However the builder has designated a non-disturbance area.

However, in December 2014 the Town Council approved cut and fill waivers for the project. The approval allows cuts up to approximately 27 feet over two and one quarter acres of the entire project limit.

The deepest, allowing between 25 to 27 feet covers about 1,900 square feet, or .04-acre.

Other waivers allow cuts from 10 to 15 feet over .89-acre; 15 to 20 feet over another .89 acre; and 20 to 25 feet over .43-acre.

Most of the cut area is to accommodate the road structure for the subdivision.